Monday, July 16, 2007

Things I've seen while working in my North Portland garden

View from my front porch
Last night while watering the garden out front, I saw a woman walking her dog, and her cat following along. She says her cat loves to join them on their walks. "I salute you" I told her. A little while later, a woman walking her two goats cruised on by. Awesome.

Just to clarify, I live in the city. In North Portland. You never know what you're going to see. It made me think back to other things I've seen while working in the garden.

Once I saw a man in a jogging outfit, jogging. And he was smoking a cigarette.

Once I saw a man on a bike, pulling a child carrier, but instead of a child, he had a boombox in there, blaring speed metal. I actually heard him before I saw him.

I've seen toothless folks arguing at the top of their lungs. I saw a woman on a horse not far from here, in a neighborhood just like ours.

I've seen possums and raccoons. I've seen Canadian Geese fly low overhead, honking as they go.

One neighbor says he's seen a skunk. I'm glad I haven't.

There used to be a guy who drove around the neighborhood on his riding mower in the mornings. Then it would be parked in front of a North Lombard tavern later in the afternoon.

A few weeks ago we saw an undercover officer and a shakedown of a carload of people in the street out front. My parents were the worst rubberneckers I've ever seen.

I've seen a woman walking her cat in a front loading baby carrier. You know, like Baby Bjorn.

What have you seen from your front yard?

9 comments:

witchtrivets said...

A big fat raccoon was a pretty exciting site a few months ago. And one night about 50 high school kids fighting in the street. And right now a huge leather couch without seat cushions can be seen in front of the rental house. Not so exotic, but within my view indefinitely it seems. Northeast Portland is just not as exciting as NoPo, I guess.

rodger said...

Deer...and I like them far better than the tarp covered car and camper in my neighbors driveway.

Your garden is lovely!

Alan Cordle said...

I've heard about the goat lady from some other NoPoers. At the Hollywood Farmers Market there's a woman who brings her rabbits and pulls them in a red wagon.

Monogram Queen said...

Well I have to say you've got me beat with the things you've saw while in your garden. I only see crackheads and assorted riff raff in my neighborhood. Sometimes a cute cat or two.

Cher said...

Dang - I gotta stay home more often! I've only ever seen a possum and that darn Siamese cat that likes to poop on my lawn.

Anonymous said...

hehe.. the "goat lady" lives across the street from me. The first time we saw the goats from a distance in the front yard my girlfriend was like "honey those are the funniest looking dogs"... the closer I looked the more I agreed until finally I laughed and said "Those are Goats... with some rabbits mixed in". She is a great lady.

Rozanne said...

"Wildlife" I've seen in Northeast PDX.

The guy across the street who likes to stand on his porch doing isometrics and hamstring stretches while smoking and talking on the phone. Multitasking at its best.

Clowns on tall bikes and small bikes are a frequent sight.

Also, raccoons, tons of cats and dogs, possums, squirrels, chickens, crows, sparrows, blue jays, hummingbirds, honeybees, bumblebees, leafcutting bees, and your personal favorite...climbing cutworms.

OK. I'll stop now.

Anonymous said...

You know I grew up in La Center and would ride my horse many places...but, I have to say I was taken back when I encounterd a lady on a big beautiful horse at Fred Meyers...I LOVED IT. I wish I could have a horse in my back yard.

Jennifer

Jennifer said...

Hey, Just got my own blog spot so I don't have to be anonymous